AUGUST 31ST  HUMPHRAY, OUR FAITHFUL FRIEND AND GRUVERS LAST DAY

I awoke this morning to an email from Humphray, the staff's tech person and all around helper with the children and driving. He is amazing and such a friend to us.  We spent a day with him as he drove us to the shopping center to pick up items and look for some music of Beanwell's I wanted. We had lunch together and talked. What a great friend he will always be to us. In the email he sent this morning, he sent me a picture of Gruvers last day with everyone arriving to bid them a fond fairwell. My goodness, Mama Margaret and staff saw everyone off and went to the airport often to greet and see people off no matter what time of the day it was. (  I was overwhelmed when right before we were to board our prop plane to our safari, Mama Margaret and Ba Patricia showed up at the airport as we entered to surprise us and help us with everything.  )  Below is a picture of everyone before Gruvers left: Humphray is taking the picture.

Below are pictures of last minute packing  ( Gruvers brought some 24 bags and carry ons to help with supplies for EOH. Holly purchased a painting of the children which she said " I realized I didn't have anything up in my house of our orphans here and they will always be with me" so I bought it." It was very difficult for them to leave and they are so loved by the staff. People in Africa do not cry - they have always been taught to be strong. However, for our family we aren't as strong as they are.  Below you also see Mama Margaret with a pink bag in her hand. It is the sample blanket that the factory gave us to take back to EOH to show the type of blanket we can get for $3.50. It is beautiful.We all stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel the last two days before boarding the plane to come home so we could resort clothing and get adjusted for the long flight.  The last pictures are of us having our final breakfast together. It was a "double wamy " for Les and I saying fairwells because we were saying fairwell to both our experience in Africa and the people but also to our amazing children and grandchildren who live !,000 miles away from us at home and whom we just don't get to see enough of.  Pray for our transition back home as it is very difficult for me. I can't speak for Les but I am sure he is restling with some of these feelings also.  We all handle things differently because we are all different.

But Grandpa always seems to help us lighten the load we are all carrying on this day.  Life for me would not be okay without Grandpa around.